Front loading extension ladders



P 1967 J. c. REDMAN ETAL 3,343,630

FRONT LOADING EXTENSION LADDERS Filed Oct. 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VE N TORS. James Char/esfiedmafl R/cfi am Aaw/efice Werner ATTORNEY.

P 1967 J. c. REDMAN ETAL FRONT LOADING EXTENSION LADDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1965 INVENTORS. James Char/esfiedman Richard Lawrence M/emer United States Patent 3,343,630 FRONT LOADING EXTENSION LADDERS James Charles Redman, Hadley, and Richard Lawrence Werner, Sharon, Pa., assignors to R. D. Werner Inc., Greenville, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,601 7 Claims. (Cl. 182209) This invention relates to extension ladders of the front loading type having separable ladder sections.

Generally, it is an object of this invention to provide a front loading extension ladder having improved means for slidably connecting the sections thereof together.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an extension ladder of the type referred to wherein the attachment and separation of the sections thereof may be accomplished while the ladder is in an inclined or working position.

Another object is to provide an extension ladder as set forth above wherein the ladder sections may be of the same width so that said sections may be stacked, one section directly on top of another.

Yet another object is to provide such an extension ladder wherein the rungs of the fly section may be as Wide as those of the base section thereby providing uniform rung surface supporting areas throughout the entire length of the ladder in its extended condition.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an extension ladder having the above characteristics wherein the side rails of the fly section are the same distance apart as those of the base section thereby increasing the width of the fly section over that of conventional ladders and effecting an increased stability of the ladder in its extended position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an extension ladder wherein both the base and fly sections thereof are substantially identical thereby necessitating only a single rung and machine setup for the entire ladder and effecting substantial savings in manufacturing costs.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved extension ladder wherein the said rail flanges of each section are positioned in the same direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved extension ladder as set forth above which is economical in construction and highly durable and eflicient in use.

These and other objects of the invention and advantages attendant will become more readily apparent from a preview of an embodiment of the invention as set forth in the appended description and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which said drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded side view of the base and fly sections of the front loading extension ladder of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the fly section only;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the base section only;

FIGURE 4 is a side view showing a first step in assembling the fly section to the base section; this view also shows the last step in disassembling the fly section from the base section;

FIGURE 5 is a side view showing the fly section completely assembled to the base section but not extended;

FIGURE 6 is a side view showing the fly section assembled to the base section and fully extended;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, outer side view of an upper end portion of a fly section side rail;

FIGURE 8 is a front view of the upper end portion of FIGURE 7;

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FIGURE 9 is an inner side view of the upper end portion of FIGURES 7 and 8;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of adjacent side rails of the base and fly sections, said sections being assembled as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6;

FIGURE 11 is a section through the adjacent side rails of FIGURE 10 taken along the line 11-11 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 12 is a section through the adjacent side rails of FIGURE 10 taken along the line 12-'12 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings, in all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, and referring more particularly to FIGURES 1-6, the front loading extension ladder of this invention is generally indicated at L and comprises a fly section 20 and a base section 40. In use as an extension ladder, the fly section is attached to the base section for relative longitudinal sliding movement therewith whereby said fly section is eX- tensible above the base section a desired heighth to afford a ladder of substantially increased length, as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The fly section 20 comprises a pair of channel shaped side rails 21 connected together by a plurality of transverse rungs 22. As best illustrated in FIGURES l1 and 12, each side rail 21 comprises a web 23 and laterally outwardly directed flanges 24 preferably parallel as shown, said flanges initiating at the longitudinal edges of said web and preferably disposed at right angles thereto, As shown, the outwardly directed edges of the flanges 24 carry inwardly turned lips 25 which are disposed substantially parallel with the associated webs 23. The upper end of the side rail 21 as shown is capped by an inwardly offset end cap 26. By offsetting the said end cap inwardly, the upper end of the side rail channel is unobstructed for reasons hereinlater explained in detail. The base section 40 is similarly capped by an inwardly offset end cap 46.

Conventional catch members 27 are carried on the inner surfaces of the webs 23 of the fly section side rails 21 by any suitable means such as brackets 28. The particular catch members 27 illustrated herein have open-ended slots 27a disposed generally in a horizontal direction and adapted to engage a rung of both the base and fly sections to retain said fly section against downward movement when the ladder L is used in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. A retainer and release arm 276 is pivoted to each catch member 27 below the associated slot 27a, said arm adapted to close the open end of the said slot during downward movement of the fly section 20.

A guide bracket 29 is mounted on the lower end portion of each side rail 21 of the fly section 20. As clearly shown in FIGURE 11, each side guide bracket 29 comprises a flat base portion 30 rigidly secured by rivets 31 flatwise against the Web 23 of its associated side rail 21 and each guide bracket 29 terminates in a projecting hook end including an integral C-shaped portion 32 which is adapted to be positioned over a flange of the fly and an adjacent flange of the base sections. The hook end embraces one of the inturned lip portions 25 of the flange 24 and projects outwardly beyond said flange and embraces a like lip portion of the base section 40, as hereinlater fully described.

The base section 40 is basically constructed in the same manner as the fly section 20 and comprises a pair of channel shaped side rails 41 connected together by a plurality of transverse rungs 42. As shown in FIGURES l1 and 12, each side rail 41 comprises a web 43 and parallel, laterally outwardly directed flanges 44 carried at the longitudinal edges of said web preferably disposed at right angles thereto. The outwardly directed edges of the flanges 44 as shown have inturned end portions on lips 45 which are in the forms shown disposed substantially parallel with the associated web portions 43 of the rails 41. The upper ends of the side rail 41, similar to the upper ends of the side rails 21, are provided with inwardly offset end caps 46 which are identical with the end caps 26 of the fly section 20.

The base section 40 is preferably provided with ladder shoes 47 pivotally mounted on laterally directed bolts disposed in the lower ends of the side rail 41. The said bolts 48 permit pivoting of the shoes 47 outwardly of the side rail 41 whereby the C-shaped portions 32 of the lower guide brackets 29 carried by the fly section may engage the lips 45 of the flanges 44 which are disposed toward the front of the base section 40 adjacent to the fly section 20, without interference.

Referring now to FIGURES 7-9, the end caps 26 on the fly section 20 and the end caps 46 on the base section 40 are identical in form, the latter caps being differently numbered only because of their association with the base section. Hence, only one end cap 26 will be described in detail, it being understood that the description applies to the end cap 46 and its association with similar associated parts of the base section.

Each end cap 26 (or 46) comprises an upright web 60 and an upwardly arched, laterally offset hood 61 providing an upwardly rounded extension of the flanges 24 of the associated side rail 21. The web 60 of the end cap 26 (or 46) is adapted to be disposed in general align- 'ment with the web 23 of the associated side rail and an integral portion of the same overlies the web 23; and the opposite wall of the web 60 is provided with an offset depending tab or extension 62; the upper edge portion of the associated side rail web 23 abuts a shoulder 63 of the cap. Reinforcing gussets 64 are provided on the inner side of each web 60 beneath the laterally offset hood 61; said gussets extend downwardly to the bottom edge of the mounting extension 62. Rivets 65 secure the said end caps to the side rails 21 and said rivets project laterally through the mounting extensions 62 and the associated side rail webs 23. As best illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 10, the hoods 61 of the end caps 26 and 46 are laterally inwardly offset toward the rungs and away from the flanges of the side rails so as to leave the upper ends of both side rail channels unobstructed.

The upper end portion of each side rail 41 of the base section 40 carries an upper guide bracket 49 which is identical in form with the guide brackets 29, the guide brackets 49 being differently numbered in the base only because of their association with said section. As well shown in FIGURE 12, each guide bracket 49 has a base 30 secured to a web 43 by rivets 31 in the bottom of a channel formed by a side rail 41. Each upper guide bracket 49 also includes an integral, C-shaped portion 32 which embraces one adjacent lip 45 and projects outwardly beyond the adjacent flange 44 whereby it is adapted to embrace a lip 25 of the fly section 20.

As illustrated in FIGURES l1 and 12, the fly section 20, in assembled relation to the base section 40, is disposed with its side rails 21 disposed against and aligned with the side rails 41 of said base section. Unlike conventional extension ladders, the sections of the present ladder invention are the same width whereby flanges of each can be positioned against flanges of respective side rails of the other section: Hence rungs 22 of the fly section 20 are of the same width as the rungs 42 of the base section 40. The side rails 21 hence are spaced apart the same distance as side rails 41 thereby providing stability for the ladder in its extended portions.

The guide brackets 49 project forwardly from the base section 40 or in the direction of the fly section 20 whereas the guide brackets 29 project rearwardly or in the direction of said base section. The adjacent flanges 24 and 44 and their oppositely directed inward projections or lips 25 and 45, respectively, afford TS in cross section which are captively embraced by the C-shaped portions 32 of the hook end of the guide brackets 29 and 49.-

The fly section is thus slidably retained by the upper guide brackets 49 and the base section is slidably retained by the lower guide brackets 29 thereby affording relative sliding movement between the sections.

To initially engage the fly section 20 to the base section 40, said sections are positioned generally as shown in FIGURE 4 with the base section leaning against a vertical surface V and resting upon a base surface B. The fly section 20 is then manipulated whereby the upper ends of the side rails 21 are slightly below the upper guide brackets 49 of the base section 40 and whereby said side rails 21 are leaning against the side rails 41.

A slight upward movement of the fly section 20 then causes the flanges 24 and the lips 25 to slip into the C- shaped portions 32 of the upper guide brackets 49. This is made possible by the offset shape of the end caps 26 and 46 which allow free relative movement of the side rails and guide brackets adjacent to the tops of the' ladder sections. At the same time, the lower end of the fly section 20 is moved inwardly against the base section 40 whereby upward movement of the fly section causes the C-shaped portions 32 of the lower guide brackets 29 to engage the flanges 44 and the lips 45 of said base section. By use of the catch member 27 in the conventional manner, the fly section 20 may be maintained in any desired extended position as, for example, that shown in FIGURE 6.

It will be readily understood that removal of the fly section 20 is effected by reversing the above described operation. Interference between the ladder shoes 47 and the lower guide brackets 29 can be avoided by pivoting said shoes away from the fly section 20, if necessary.

The component parts of the front loading extension ladder of this invention may be made of any suitable material such as steel, aluminum either formed or extruded, fiber glass or the like. The end caps may be,

molded from a suitable rigid plastic if desired.

The present invention provides a front loading extension ladder wherein the sections thereof can be stacked, one on top of the other. The uniform width of the sections provides equal usable rung area throughout the length of the ladder and increases its stability at the top. It also provides an extension ladder which can be manufactured with but a single rung and machine setup thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

It will be understood that many changes in the details of the invention as herein described and illustrated may be made without, however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a pair of ladder sections including a base section and a fly section for extending upwardly above said base section, each said section comprising substantially parallel side rails connected together by a plurality of rungs, a first pair of guide means carried by the side rails respectively of said base section, a second pair of guide means carried by the side rails respectively of said fly section, said side rails of said sections being spaced apart the same distance with the side rails of said fly section overlapping the side rails of the base section in side-by-side pairs,.each said rail having a laterally projecting flange throughout substantially its entire length projecting parallel with and in the same direction as the flange of the rail with which it is paired, said flanges of each said pair of rails being closely adjacent to each other and having lips at their distal edges, with the lips of each saidpair of rails being turned away from each other and disposed in a common plane, each said guide means having means engaging both the lip of the side rail to which it is attached and the adjacent lip on the side rail to which it is not attached whereby said' sections are longitudinally slidably movable in use thereof, and means for retaining said sections in different longitudinally adjusted positions.

2. In a device of the class described in claim 1, said lip means and said guide means being disposed at the sides of said side rails away from said rungs.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of ladder sections including a base section and a fly section for eX- tending upwardly above said base section, each said section comprising substantially parallel side rails connected together by a plurality of rungs, a first pair of guide brackets carried adjacent to the upper ends respectively of the side rails of said base section, a second pair of guide brackets carried adjacent to the lower ends respectively of the side rails of said fly section, said side rails comprising web portions and lateral flanges, said flanges having inturned lips disposed substantially parallel with their associated web, each said guide bracket having projection means projecting beyond the side rail to which it is attached, each said projection means being C-shaped and adapted to engage both a lip of the side rail to which it is attached and the adjacent lip of the side rail to which it is not attached, whereby said sections are longitudinally slidably movable in use thereof, and means for retaining said sections in different longitudinally adjusted positions.

4. In a device of the class described in claim 3, the upper ends of the rails of both said sections having protective end caps, said end caps being laterally inwardly offset whereby the upper end of said side rails are open whereby said guide brackets and lips are slidable past said end caps.

5. In a device of the class described, a pair of ladder sections including a base section and a fly section, each said section comprising channel shaped side rails connected together by a plurality of rungs, said rails comprising webs having parallel flanges projecting laterally outwardly of each section, a first pair of guide means carried adjacent to the upper ends respectively of said side rails of said base section, a second pair of guide means carried adjacent to the lower ends respectively of the side rails of said fly section, said side rails of said sections being spaced apart substantially the same distance with outer surfaces of flanges of said fly section slidably overlying outer surfaces of flanges of said base section in side-by-side, flatwise engaging pairs of flanges, each pair of said flanges having oppositely directed lips at the distal edges thereof, said lips of each said pair of flanges being disposed in a common plane parallel with said webs, each said guide means having projection means extending beyond the side rail to which it is attached and engaging both a lip of the side rail to which it is attached and the adjacent lip of the side rail to which it is not attached.

6. In a device of the class described in claim 5, said projection means having means providing a C-shaped opening engaging both a lip of the side rail to which it is attached and the adjacent lip of the side rail to which it is not attached.

7. In a device of the class described in claim 5, said guide means comprising brackets extending only a short longitudinal distance along said rails, said brackets being mounted between associated of said flanges, each said projection means being C-shaped and projecting out of its associated channel and hooking over adjacent of said lips.

References Cited REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A PAIR OF LADDER SECTIONS INCLUDING A BASE SECTION AND A FLY SECTION FOR EXTENDING UPWARDLY ABOVE SAID BASE SECTION, EACH SAID SECTION COMPRISING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE RAILS CONNECTED TOGETHER BY A PLURALITY OF RUNGS, A FIRST PAIR OF GUIDE MEANS CARRIED BY THE SIDE RAILS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID BASE SECTION, A SECOND PAIR OF GUIDE MEANS CARRIED BY THE SIDE RAILS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID FLY SECTION, SAID SIDE RAILS OF SAID SECTIONS BEING SPACED APART THE SAME DISTANCE WITH THE SIDE RAILS OF SAID FLY SECTION OVERLAPPING THE SIDE RAILS OF THE BASE SECTION IN SIDE-BY-SIDE PAIRS, EACH SAID RAILS HAVING A LATERALLY PROJECTING FLANGE THROUGHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY ITS ENTIRE LENGTH PROJECTING PARALLEL WITH AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE FLANGE OF THE RAIL WITH WHICH IT IS 